FORM 020.

118 REV1401

THERMA-FUSER SYSTEMS

HIGH PERFORMANCE AIR SYSTEMS USING

HIGH EFFICIENCY PACKAGED ROOFTOP UNITS
Zoned with Therma-Fuser VAV Diffusers
INTRODUCTION

GOALS

High efficiency packaged rooftop units usually contain

outside air and return air dampers, filters, variable
speed fan(s), a cooling coil, a heating source, multi
stage or variable speed compressors, a condenser
and controls. Combined with low pressure ductwork
and the individual temperature control of ThermaFuser VAV diffusers, they are ideal for satisfying the
goals of both comfort and low energy HVAC in small
to medium office buildings.

1. Comfort: Individual temperature control

2. Low Energy: Small zones of control
3. Low Energy: VAV turndown pressure control
4. Low Energy: Supply air temperature (SAT) control
5. Low Energy: Low pressure drop duct work
6. Low Energy: Eliminate / reduce reheat

Recommendations in accord with ASHRAEs Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small to
Medium Office Buildings Achieving 50% Energy Savings Toward a Net Zero Energy Building.

1.

COMFORT:
INDIVIDUAL TEMPERATURE CONTROL
Therma-Fuser VAV diffusers have separately
adjustable heating and cooling setpoints.
Thermostat and VAV damper are built-in.

2.

LOW ENERGY:
SMALL ZONES OF CONTROL
Each Therma-Fuser diffuser is a VAV
zone of control. No energy is wasted by
overcooling or overheating.

HIGH EFFICIENCY
PACKAGED
ROOFTOP UNIT
(5 to 25 ton)

3b.

LOW ENERGY:
VAV TURNDOWN
PRESSURE CONTROL

RETURN AIR

4a.

4b.

Control compressors and heat with a

discharge air thermostat for constant SAT.
May be reset to another constant SAT.

Changeover between heating and cooling

may be manual, with a room thermostat
(as shown), or multiple voting room
sensors. Locate the room thermostat in the
room of greatest need or maybe the most
important room.

Design cooling SAT at 50F and reset

to 58 to 61F depending on climate zone.
For SAT reset in humid climates use at
least one zone humidity sensor to disable
reset if humidity exceeds 60%.
The heating SAT must be as low as
possible but no lower than 80F.

LOW ENERGY:
VAV TURNDOWN
PRESURE CONTROL
For static pressure control and
pressure independence, control
the fan speed from a static
pressure sensor located in the
duct run. Use multiple sensors
for duct work with multiple
branches.

CURB

LOW ENERGY:
SUPPLY AIR TEMPERATURE
(SAT) CONTROL

3a.

LOW ENERGY:
SUPPLY AIR TEMPERATURE
(SAT) CONTROL

Locate the static pressure sensor

closest to the last Therma-Fuser
VAV diffuser in the duct run. As
the system turns down SP is
reset downward for all upstream
diffusers.

SEE NEXT PAGE FOR:

5. Low Energy: Low pressure drop duct work
6. Low Energy: Eliminate / reduce reheat

5.

LOW ENERGY:
LOW PRESSURE DROP DUCT WORK
5a. SUPPLY AIR DUCTING

Minimize the fan outlet effect with a straight run duct

or an elbow in the direction of the fan rotation.
Use duct liner only where neccesary for sound attentuation. Use the minimum needed. Avoid sound traps.
Make as straight as possible with a minimum of
transitions and joints.

Use large radius elbows and low pressure drop fittings

and takeoffs.
Size for 1200 to 700 fpm or pressure drop no greater than
0.08wg per 100ft.
Limit use of flexible ducting to a maximum of 5ft at the
diffusers.

HIGH EFFICIENCY
PACKAGED
ROOFTOP UNIT
(5 to 25 ton)

5b. CURB
Connect ducts to rooftop units
through an insulated roof curb to
avoid ducts outside the building
envelope.

5c. RETURN AIR

Provide at least one return air grill for

each VAV diffuser, more if the zone is

large.
Size grills for pressure drop no greater
than 0.08wg
Use ceiling return air plenums (except
in high humidity locations such as
DOE climate zone 1). Seal ceiling
plenums for minimum air infiltration
Size ducts for pressure drop no
greater than 0.04wg per 100ft.

5d. SIZING THERMA-FUSER

VAV DIFFUSERS

5e. LOW PRESSURE / LOW

ENERGY BALANCING

Size Therma-Fuser VAV diffusers for low

static pressure drops between 0.25wg
and 0.05wg. Size the diffusers as large as
possible, especially at the end of the duct
run, for the lowest possible pressure drop
at design air flow.

Specify that no balancing damper shall

be installed before the last VAV diffuser
(alternatively that the balancing damper
before the last VAV diffuser shall remain
open) so that the system will be balanced
at the lowest possible fan speed.

6.

LOW ENERGY:
ELIMINATE / REDUCE REHEAT

Eliminate the need for reheat by adding enough

inexpensive insulation to the building envelope until the heat
loss through the envelope at outside temperature below
winter design is less than the heat gain of the occupants and
other internal loads in perimeter spaces. Warm-up heating
may still be required.
Eliminate the need for reheat by using a separate VAV
packaged DX unit for each heating zone such as one per
exposure and one for the interior.

Use the lowest possible minimum flow set point. Must be

the higher of the minimum ventilation requirement - or the minimum 10% of design air flow for Therma-Fuser VAV
diffusers.
Use a slightly higher supply air temperature. An increase in
the supply air temperature will require a larger volume of air.
Increasing the use of fan energy to lower use of refrigeration
energy can seldom be justified except when also reducing
reheat. One method is to reset supply air temperature during cool weather and size interior zones for 60 F or higher
supply air. Supply air reset may not be beneficial in warm
climates and in high humidity locations where alternate
dehumidification may be required.

1766 Sabre Street, Hayward CA 94545, USA

Tel: +1 510 785 0510 Fax: +1 510 785 2517

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Subject to change without notice.